LEN’S NOT AT HIS HOUSE. I RING THE BELL FOR LIKE FIVE minutes, but no one answers. I’m so frustrated with him, and my heart still hurts from seeing my dad, that it’s all I can do not to knock over one of the half dozen tacky fake Roman statues that line Len’s driveway. I settle for throwing a wad of chewing gum into the enormous fountain in his front yard.
I get back into the car. In the passenger seat, Chris holds on to the guitar, but he’s not said anything since we left Dad’s trailer. We’re apparently not going to talk about what happened with Dad. And that’s perfectly okay with me.
“Well, Len’s either hibernating, dead, or—”
“He’s at the Castle,” says Chris. He holds up his phone. “Penny had to run over there to work on the schedule and she told me he’s been there the entire time, pacing his office and talking to people from Corporate on the phone.”
“To the Castle we go then,” I say, backing the car out of Len’s driveway.
To my surprise, Len smiles when we walk into his office. “Ahh, my favorite niece and nephew.” His eyes go straight to the guitar and his jaw drops. “What can I do for you?”
It’s disconcerting to think that he’s totally forgotten what an ass he was yesterday.
“You’re in a good mood,” says Chris. He looks suspicious. “What’s going on?”
“Maybe there’s a sale on toilet paper at the Costco,” I say under my breath, knowing how much Len likes to flash his membership card like he’s hot shit for being able to shop there.
I help Chris into one of the chairs by the desk.
Len holds up an email he’s printed out. “I’m being considered for promotion to the Corporate office in Miami. Despite the initial email they sent you, Kit, someone in upper management really likes what we’re doing here for women’s rights and becoming more progressive. There’s talk that this might be the wave of the future at the Castles. They want me to move to Miami to get their program up to scratch.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re taking credit for my hard work?”
“No,” says Len. “I’m finally getting what I deserve. You already know the Corporate people are coming tomorrow, and although they said no to your proposed scheme, I’m going to authorize you to do a little demonstration. But, just you, Kit. You can ride out with the Knights, wave, and then head back. We’ll show them how the crowd loves you, and that should be enough to secure my promotion.”
“So, you’re giving me permission to ride out as part of the show, but not as a real Knight?” I can’t keep the disgust from my voice. “It’s all a great big sham of equality?”
“Exactly,” says Len. “That’s what Corporate wants, so that’s what they’ll get.” He hands Chris a pile of Workers’ Comp paperwork. “And here, Chris, fill these out. They should cover your bills. See, there you go. Uncle Len saves the day. Now give me my guitar.”
Chris and I share a look. He glances at the guitar. It feels like it should be harder to give something from our dad away, but it doesn’t even sting. Or maybe I’m just numb to all thoughts of my dad right now. I shrug and Chris hands it over. Len grabs the guitar, hungrily.
“One more thing, Chris,” he says as we turn to go. “My job is going to be vacant, and I put your name in the hat for it. I think you’d make an excellent King and general manager. Plus, you won’t have to ride a horse unless you want to.”
Chris stops in his tracks. He grips my sleeve with his good arm. “Are you kidding?”
Len shakes his head. “Serious as a heart attack. Make sure I get that promotion and my job is yours. It’s full benefits and seventy thousand a year.”
Chris looks stunned. “I’ll take it.”
“He means we’ll think about it,” I say taking his arm. “And I’ll ride out tomorrow. Don’t worry. I’ll give you a show that won’t soon be forgotten.”
“Just do as you’re told, Kit,” says Len. “Think you can handle that?”
Of course I can handle it. In fact, I can do way better than that.
“SO, YOU’RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING STUPID?” SAYS CHRIS as we walk away from Len’s office.
“Most assuredly,” I say. “But it will also be grand and bold, and it’ll shake things up. If I pull it off, it should help, not hurt, your job prospects.”
“I’m not even sure I want this job,” says Chris. “Though it is a lot of money. But—and don’t tell Mom this—I applied for a transfer to the University of Chicago, and I got in. They’re going to give me a scholarship. If I take it, I’ll be set up for whatever engineering internship I want. But I’m not sure I can afford to commute and—”
“Chris! Congrats! That’s amazing news and we’ll totally make it work.”
“I think it’s what I need to do,” says Chris. “I don’t want to be Len in another twenty years. But what’re you going to do? Are you really going to let him parade you around like that?”
“If Layla and the others were still talking to me it would be different, but without them, I’m not sure what else I can do.”
“Talk to them. Tell them what Len said. I bet they’ll want to ride out with you. And Austin and I have already convinced most of the other Knights to let you ride in their places. If we stick to the original plan, you can be the Red Knight, Layla can be Blue, Alex can ride as Yellow, Mags as Purple, Penny as Black-and-White …”
“You forgot Green. What’s Lizzy going to do?”
“Yeah, Dalton’s not relenting.” Chris makes a face.
“Maybe we can plan for that. I can always give her the Red Knight costume and ride out as someone totally different. That is, if you know anyone who might have spare plate armor or chain mail in the garden shed.”
“Lucky for you I know a guy,” says Chris, grinning.
“This could work,” I say. “If I can convince the others.”
A task that is going to be harder than anything else I’ve done so far.